The Wellington Phoenix snapped a four-match winless streak by continuing their stranglehold over the faltering Central Coast Mariners with a deserved 2-0 A-League football victory in Gosford tonight.
Two second half strikes by England-born Barbados international Paul Ifill enabled the Phoenix to bank three valuable competition points from the 20th round match at Bluetongue Stadium and replace the Mariners as seventh on the ladder, one point out of the play-off zone on 25.
A classy incision into the box by former Mariners midfielder Adrian Caceres provided the killer blow in the 80th minute when he drew three defenders before back heeling to Ifill who gave Andrew Redmayne no chance for a second time in the contest.
Ifill had broken a scoreless deadlock two minutes after halftime when he won -- and converted -- a penalty after being brought down with his back to goal by a clumsy Pedj Bojic.
The striker slotted the ball past Redmayne, who dived correctly to the right, but was unable to get a palm on the ball.
It was Ifill's his first goal since the round 15 win at Newcastle, the Phoenix's last victory.
Although there was no dispute about the spot kick being awarded the Mariners felt they were denied a penalty a minute before the break when defender Tony Lochhead clipped Matt Simon though fortunately for the Phoenix the striker's first touch took the ball away from goal leaving referee Matthew Breeze to wave play on.
Simon's game deteriorated after that set back, he scuffed a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise wide from close range in the 50th minute and 60 seconds later was unlucky to be booked for a challenge on Jon McKain -- the first of five second bookings as the contest turned tetchy after a benign first half marked by low quality finishing.
Phoenix midfielder Troy Harefield had the best visitor's best opportunity in the fourth minute when a pass from Caceres deflected into his path on the edge of the box but he pushed the ball wide of the right hand post.
All White Michael McGlinchy then missed a chance to impress -- and dismay -- Phoenix and national coach coach Ricki Herbert when he headed a pinpoint cross to goalkeeper Liam Reddy in the 11th minute.
Simon's fellow striker Nick Mrdja also had a frustrating evening after two direct free kicks missed the mark before he was booked for a crude challenge on McKain.
The Mariners were left to contemplate their fifth straight defeat -- their worst ever run in the A-League -- and a fifth unsuccessful to better the Phoenix since the 2008-09 season.
They have now been unable to find the back of the net in 7-1/2 hours of action against the Wellington club.
The Phoenix next play the sixth-placed Brisbane Roar, 4-1 victors in their last meeting in November 29, at Westpac Stadium on January 9.
